Making the announcement, Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, said this proposed introduction, is a “positive development” and reflects the Ministry’s thrust to integrate more technical and vocational subjects into the secondary school curriculum.

“This is a necessary rebranding exercise because over time, parents and students had begun to prefer the traditional subjects while decrying those that involved technical and vocational competences,” he stated, while addressing the Business of Sport International Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, May 1.

Minister Thwaites added that the offering of the subject at this level, will allow students to advance in an area in which they clearly have an advantage.

Reiterating the importance of coupling academics with technical and vocational subjects, Mr. Thwaites said this will undoubtedly produce highly skilled and qualified Jamaicans, who are better able to meet the global workforce demands.

With the subject already being offered at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination level in the island, Rev. Thwaites informed that Jamaican schools captured the top 10 positions in the regional ranking last year.

Some of the institutions, which came out on top in physical education at the CSEC include: Foga Road High School, which topped the list; DeCarteret College; St. Mary High; Holmwood Technical High; Denbigh High; Willowdene High; Morant Bay High; and Mona High.

“The same way we applaud those who do well in the sciences and in the arts, so we must record and applaud our appreciation for those who do well in this area also,” he added.

The conference, which ended on May 2, was held under the theme ‘Transform the Game’, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

It aimed to change the perspective of sports as a leisurely past time, to a viable business that will significantly contribute to the national gross domestic product (GDP).